Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is a rewarding and unique career path that gives you the chance to work and travel at the same time, allowing for personal and professional development in ways it can be hard to find in the UK. With TESOL positions available in all four corners of the globe, teaching English abroad is a great way to explore different cultures, meet new people and learn fresh perspectives about yourself and the world around you. There are lots of positions out there but the competition for jobs can be fierce so to give yourself the best chance of securing your dream TESOL position you’ll want to make sure you present yourself as a stand out candidate. Here are a few tips and tricks to make sure your application gets the attention it deserves.
Get Certified
TESOL positions are highly sought after, qualified teaching positions, so whilst they might not require you to be a fully qualified teacher you will be expected to hold a Bachelor’s degree and a relevant TESOL qualification. There are lots of TESOL qualifications out there, you will want to make sure the one you chose is reputable and accredited with at least 120 hours of instruction, as these are some of the minimum requirements international language schools will expect from their teachers. Most of these courses can be completed online, although many are also available in person and should include supervised teaching practice. Some of the more established courses available are the CambridgeCELTA <https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/teaching-qualifications/celta/> and the Trinty CertTESOL <link https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/teaching-english/CertTESOL>, these courses are offered by institutes across the UK and are well respected by international schools around the world.
While a TESOL certificate is essential to getting a position teaching English internationally it should also be noted that most positions will require you to have a Bachelor’s level degree or diploma from your country of origin. TESOL positions are academic roles with significant responsibilities and as such most countries require you to be a graduate in order to teach, even if you are TESOL qualified.
Gain Practical Experience
Once you’re qualified it’s a good idea to get some practical experience in the classroom before looking for a teaching position abroad, this will give your CV an extra edge when applying for jobs and also gives you the chance to make sure teaching English as a second language is the right career for you without the added stress of moving to a different country. There are plenty of schools teaching English to foreign nationals here in the UK. Private language schools or classes provided by global corporations for their employees can give you the chance to use your TESOL qualification without going abroad. There are also plenty of opportunities to teach English as a second language online, via digital schools or by providing private tuition for individual clients. Having more than 100 hours teaching experience is a great way to show you’re a driven candidate with a genuine passion for teaching, exactly the kind of teacher internationally schools are looking for.
Have a Professionally Tailored Resume
Applying for work internationally can be tough, most of your communication will be via email and it can be hard to make a great first impression without being face to face, this means your CV has to do all the talking for you. Having a professional and well presented resume is the first step to getting the attention of the application panel; make sure it is easy to read, with only relevant information and clearly presents your qualifications and experience. Any extra-curricular experiences that show your quality as an educator are a great addition to an international teaching CV; Duke of Edinburgh schemes, sports clubs or performance projects demonstrate what you have to offer not only as a language teacher but as a well-rounded educator.
Put Together a Teaching Portfolio
As competition increases for international teaching positions it is important to be creative in how you present yourself when applying for a position. A recent development in applications for teaching positions is the use of a Teaching Portfolio. Designed to showcase in detail your teaching skills and experience a Teaching Portfolio can be made up of lesson plans, assessments you have received and feedback from students. Hosting your portfolio digitally can allow you to demonstrate your technological savvy as well making it efficient for the application panel to access it remotely.
Network in the TESOL Community
Once you start looking into teaching English to speakers of other languages as a career path you will find there are lots of routes you can take towards finding a job teaching either at home or abroad. Networking is essential to finding work, especially if you excel in face to face meetings. Joining a TESOL association such as TESOL International <link https://www.tesol.org/> and attending workshops and conferences gives you the chance to establish connections in the international teaching community that can prove vital when you are applying for an international teaching position. You might have a chance to meet representatives from global schools in person and attending job fairs means you can see the full range of job opportunities available to you once you have your TESOL qualification. Online resources such as PureTeach can also help you find your dream job teaching English abroad, facilitating networking and communication between you and hundreds of international schools looking for teachers.
Prepare for your Interview
If you’re lucky enough to be invited to interview for an international teaching position it means the school you have applied to is genuinely interested in your application and you have a real chance to make a good impression. Interviews are mostly conducted remotely, although some schools may invite you to interview at a branch in the UK, whether digital or in person it is essential that you present yourself as smart and professional. Do your best to come across as passionate and driven, if you have a teaching portfolio like we mentioned above then take the time to talk the panel through it, highlighting your previous experience as a teacher. Research the school you are applying to and be ready to ask questions about the position and the institute itself, when applying for work internationally it is a great idea to also research the country the school is in; the application panel may want to know what interests you about living in and experiencing that culture specifically. A job interview with an international school is your opportunity to showcase your skills and assets as a teacher and secure that dream teaching job abroad. We have a more detailed guide to preparing for international interviews available here.
If you’ve been thinking about teaching English to speakers of other languages, we hope we’ve managed to clarify a little the process of applying for work and the expectations that schools will have of you as a candidate. If you think it’s the career path for you then get qualified, get experienced and get out there to explore the world of job opportunities available to those with a TESOL certificate.
